William II of Holland

William II of Holland (February 1227-28 January 1256) was King of the Romans from 21 May 1254 to 28 January 1256, succeeding Conrad IV of Germany and preceding Richard of Germany.

Biography
William was born in February 1227, the son of Floris IV of Holland and Matilda of Brabant, Countess of Holland - he came from the House of Gerulfing. In 1247, Henry II of Brabant and the Archbishop of Cologne secured his election as King of the Romans after Frederick II of Germany was excommunicated, and he took Aachen from Frederick's followers. In July 1253, he defeated an army of the County of Flanders during his conquest of Zeeland, and his anti-Flemish policy resulted in deteriorating relations with the Kingdom of France. On 28 January 1256, he was killed in battle with the Frisians at Hoogwoud while wandering through the woods after his horse fell through the ice, and Richard of Cornwall succeeded him as King of the Romans.